In to the night

On Sunday last, we officially reached the end of British Summer Time (BST) and reverted to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC ) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as we commonly know it.

The time of year we turn back the clocks by one hour, kidding ourselves that we get an extra hour’s sleep in the mornings.

As a result of this change, there will be more daylight in the mornings for a few more weeks, weather and cloud cover permitting. Alas evenings will unfortunately, become darker much earlier. And soon, without realising it, we will feel like we have slipped in to the night – getting up and going back to bed in darkness.

It’s that time of the year for winter walks wrapped in layers of warm woollies topped off with bright hats, scarves and gloves. A time to crunch with each footfall over crisp dry leaves and branches, singing together and watching our sound travel on our visible breaths before us.

Returning home rosy cheeked, to snuggle close to a glowing fire with a glass of hot chocolate or Glühwein, served warm to bring relief to hands that cuddle the cup or glass, and the bodies that drink it.

Feeling that “Aah . . . that’s better!” moment, while sinking deep into a comfortable well used arm chair.

To….

to continue working on a jigsaw puzzle

Or perhaps, toasting English muffins or large fluffy marshmallows by the fire. A time to think, plan and look forward to the festive season not far around the corner.

In to the night was chosen as our LBC topic this week by Will Knott, before he stepped back from blogging with us, due to blog problems. I do hope he finds time and a way to draw up to the fire with a glass of Glühwein and see how the other active members tackle the topic.

I remember this one as a child.. In the days when I used to go to bed with daylight streaming through the curtains and listening to children playing on the street outside. It used to really upset me. It was only when my children were young I realised that I went to bed at 6pm!! Mine never went to bed that early!

Also it gets dark earlier here than it did in Dublin or Belfast! By 8pm even in mid summer here it is getting dark!

I just bought another copy of the book it was in a few weeks ago! Serendipidity

Our winter starts officially after the diwali festival is over. In Pune we have a moderate winter which is very comfortable. There was a time when I used to enjoy visiting Europe in the winter for the snow, Christmas etc, but doubt very much that I can stand it now. Apart from anything else, I am nervous about slipping on ice and falling!

Daylight savings time ends in the US on this Sunday. I wish they would leave it one way, I wouldn’t even care which one. I spent the evening in my pile jacket being to stingy to turn up the heat. That will come in Jan – Feb I imagine when the real cold hits our town. I enjoyed your “Into the Night Note.”

On visits to UK I find it bewildering to have enough light at 11 pm to unrig a yacht in summer, and yet such ridiculously short days in winter. In South Africa our changes are far less dramatic, but we do suffer from the ridiculous policy not to have a couple of different time zones. At the eastern end, we have daylight starting in the early hours of the morning, and yet still far too little extra afternoon or evening daylight.

They don’t change time here in China. All year round the entire country is set to “Beijing” time. I feel sorry for the farmers who live far enough away from Beijing that they have to get up in the dark to do their chores.

I don’t really like the shorter afternoons, but it has been hard for me to leave in the morning with it still dark! So the tradeoff will work just fine. Your evenings sound warm and toasty, and perfect for some quiet contemplation. Gluhwein doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

I never minded going to work early on the dark mornings, but trudging home in the darkness through crowds of people with heads down and slumped shoulders, was rather depressing. Of course that was long before every second person had iPod earphones soldered to their ears!